The smell of burning wood and soil hangs heavy on my lungs and makes it difficult to breathe. Thick plumes of smoke fill the crisp clean air. Giant flames rise into the air, circling us like the fires of hell. The autumn dry leaves shrivel up until nothing remains. The glowing embers jump and twirl in a fiery dance, crackling and hissing their own deadly tune, showing their colours: red, orange, blue and yellow flickering brightly, lighting up the pitch-black sky. The men begin to chant cult-like, slowly at first, before becoming more urgent as their voices rise, becoming louder with each word they utter, their heads tilt back to stare at the midnight sky.įire leaps from the ground, making us stumble backwards in surprise. Her arms wrap around me tightly, like a warm comforting blanket, protecting me from the evil darkness and cold that permeates all around us. A woman with raven black hair and sharp blue eyes steps out of a cluster of trees. Hatred and anger radiate from their glowing embers like sharp daggers cutting deep into my soul. They begin to circle me like lions, studying me, waiting for the right moment to pounce on their prey. Six men, all wearing black cloaks, surround me, their silhouettes black shadows against the dark and gloomy backdrop, leaving only their eyes visible. Cold sweat drips from my head, brought on by anxiety as my nerves take complete control. My heart thumps wildly in my chest like a drum, the rhythm fast and unsteady, the sound vibrating in my ears. The smell of death lingers in the air like rotting meat left in the sun, causing my stomach to churn and burn. The distant hooting of an owl makes my skin crawl, adding to the dire situation I now find myself in. They crunch loudly under my feet, the sound echoing around me. The night air brings crispness to the fallen leaves, bejewelled with frost. The icy wind whistles through the air, pinching at my skin with its chilly fingertips. My breath rises in visible puffs that swirl around me before fading into the clouded night sky. Naked trees line my path like beacons showing the way.

Secrets of the Mind by E.J. Bennett